Dispensing apparatus for liquefied gas



Dec. 21, 1937. H. c. PITTMAN DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR LIQUEFIED GAS FiledApril 1 1957 Patented Dec. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

GAS

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR, LIQUEFIED Herbert G. Pittman, Tyler, Tex

Application April 1, 1937, Serial N0. 134,355

8 Claims.

It is another object of the inventi ii to provide apparatus of the character described which is provided with a collecting chamber arranged above the tank and in which the gas given oif from the liquid may collect and from which the collected gas is delivered to the service main. Provision is thus made for delivery of only dry gas to the point of consumption, that is, gas which has been thoroughly vaporized.

It is another object of the invention to provide in combination with the dispensing, or delivery, apparatus a condensation trap arranged to collect the uncondensed liquid, or the heavy wet gas which may be entrained in the dry gas being delivered to the point of consumption.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved and novel means for anchoring the filling and dispensing apparatus in relation to the tank, as well-as novel means for enclosing and protecting said filling and dispensing apparatus.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, arrangement of parts and use, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:=-

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the installation, partly in section, and shown partly broken away.

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary plan view, showing the casing cover in open position, and

Figure 3 shows a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates a storage tank preferably cylindrical in form and horizontally arranged and adapted to be buried beneath the ground surface. the tank I and upstanding therefrom there is a cylindrical casing 2 which is preferably welded. or otherwise permanently secured, to the tank i. This casing is of sufficient height to extend slightly above the ground surface.

Within the casing 2 and preferably located at a distance beneath the top of the casing there is a transverse anchor plate 3 forming a partition. A filler tube 4 has its upper end secured to the anchor plate 3 and it extends down into the tank I and terminates near the bottom of the tank and the lower end of this filler tube is equipped with a conventional type back pressure valve mechanism 5. The upper end of the filler tube is equipped with a filler valve mechanism 8 of conventional construction. The upper end of the casing of this filler valve is outwardly threaded to receive a filler hose connection whereby the filler tube may be connected with the delivery hose leading from the tank truck or other source ofsupply. The installation has been particularly designed for storing and dispensing normal butane or other similar liquefied petroleum gases. When the tank I is charged with a supply of liquid the upper end of the easing of the valve 6 may be closed by the removable plug 8. a

As the liquefied gas is being delivered into the tank I vaporized gas in the tank is allowed to escape into the filling tank through a pipe 8 which is anchored to theplate 3 and whose lower end extends down only a short distance into,the tank i.

The upper end of the pipe 4 is equipped with a vapor valve 9, the upper end of whose casing is threaded to receive the connection of the hose leading to the filling tank. When said connection is disconnected the upper end of the casing of'the valve 9 may be closed by a plug H].

The lower end of the pipe 8 determines the level to whichthe liquefied gas in the tank i will rise during the filling operation and the pipe 8 should extend down into the tank 8 a suificient distance to allowa sufiicient clearance for vapor space.

Mounted on the plate 3 there is a pop-off valve ll to prevent excess pressures-in the tank I or casing 2, also mounted on the plate 3 there is a tubular nipple I2 through which the gauge rod l 3 works. This gauge rod extends down to the bottom of the tank I and has a stop I I on the lower end thereof to prevent the complete withdrawal of the rod. The upper end of the rod I3 has a grip I5 which is normally enclosed by the closure cap I6 screwed onto the upper end of the nipple I2. The gauge rod I3 is provided for the usual purpose of determining the amount of liquid in the tank i.

The top of the tank I within the casing 2 is provided with the requisite number of ports ii to permit the escape of the vaporized gas from the tank into the dry gas chamber I8 of the casing 2. It 'will be noted that this chamber I8 is completely enclosed by the casing 2 and the partition plate 3.

The numeral I9 designates a conventional presequipped with the manually controlled valve 23 and is connected into the upper portion oi! the chamber l8 through the connection 24.

Within the chamber ii there is a condensation trap 25 which is tubular in form and arranged vertically with its lower end closed and its upper end open. The connection 24 is connected into the trap adjacent the upper end of the latter.

The regulator l 9 and its connections are enclosed by the hood 25 which is set adjacent the casing 2 and which has the marginal dowels as 21 arranged to be fitted through the outwardly extended eyes 28 of the casing as illustrated in Figure 3 whereby the hood is detachably secured I to the casing. A cover plate 29 is hinged to the casing at one side and is shaped to close the casing when the cover is swung to closed position and is provided with an extension 30 shaped also to cover the hood 26. I

The tank will be filled, or partly filled, with the liquefied gas under pressure and as the gas in the tank vaporizes the pressure will be increased and dry gas will collect in the-chamber l8 and will pass out through the regulator l9 and through the service pipe 20. The heavy, wet gas, and water, if any, will collect in the trap 25 so that only dry gas will be permitted to pass out through the service pipe. Thecondensed gas in the trap 25 will gradually vaporize and pass on out. Any gas or water that may collect in the tray 25 and which will not vaporize may be discharged from the trap by disconnecting the union 22 thus permitting the gas to blow through the connection 24 to the free air for a short time and during which time the liquid remaining in the trap will be siphoned out and the trap thus cleansed. 7

The compartment of the casing above the partition plate 3 is provided with the air vents as 30 permitting free circulation of air and said compartment is also provided with a side opening 3| through which water which'may collect in said compartment may be permitted to drain out.

As hereinabove stated the filler pipe 4 terminates near the bottom of the tank I whereby the liquid being charged into said tank I will be discharged into the body of liquid therein which will retard the vaporization of the liquid which, in

turn, will tend to minimize the pressure generated in the tank by said vaporization. 3

The drawing and description disclose what is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be define by the appended claims..-

What I claim is:- v

1. Apparatus for storing and delivering liquefied gas comprising a storage tank, a casing as sociated with the tank and containing a dry gas chamber connected into the tank, an anchor plate in the casing enclosing said chamber, a filler tube anchored to the casing and extending through said chamber and into the tank and terminating adjacent the bottom of the tank, a gas vent pipe anchored to the said plate and extended through the chamber and into the tank and terminating near the top of the tank, a pressure reducing regulator connected into said chamber and a service pipe connected to said regulator.

i 2. Apparatus for storing and delivering liquefled gas comprising a storage tank, a casing secured to the tank and containing a dry gas chamher which is connected into the tank, an anchor 'tended through the chamber and into the tank plate across the casing and forming a partition therein, filling devices anchored to the partition wardly from said regulator.

4. Apparatus for storing and delivering liquefied gas comprising a storage tank, a casing associated with the tank and containing a dry gas chamber which is connected into the tank, a filling tube and a gas vent pipe in said chamber and extended into the tank, a hood adjacent the casing, a pressure reducing regulator in the hood having a tubular connection into the chamber, a service pipe connected to and leading outwardly from said regulator and a condensation trap within said chamber connected into said connection.

v 5. Apparatus for storing and delivering liquefled gas comprising a storage tank, a casing mounted on said tank and containing a dry gas chamber, said tank having a port leading into into the chamber, a service pipe leading from the regulator and a common cover for said casin and hood. v

6. Apparatus for storing and delivering liquefled gas comprising a storage tank, a casing associated with the tank and containing a dry gas chamber connected into the tank, an anchor plate on the casing enclosing said chamber, a filler tube anchored to said casing and extending through said chamber'and communicating with the tank, a gas vent pipe anchored to the casing and exand terminating near the top of the tank, a pressure reducing regulator connected into said chamher and a service pipe connected to saidregulator.

7. Apparatus for storing and delivering liquefled gas comprising a storage tank, a casing on the tank and containing a dry gas chamber which is connected into the tank, an anchor plate across the casing, filling devicesanchored to the plate, a pressure regulator outside of the casing and connected into said chamber and a service pipe leading from the regulator.

8. Apparatus for storing and delivering liqu fiedgas comprising a storage tank, a casing associated with the tank containing a chamber which is connected'into the tank, a filling tube communicating with the tank and a gas vent pipe in the chamber and extended into the tank, a hood adjacent the casing. a pressure reducing regulator in the hood having a tubular connection into the chamber and a service pipe connected to and leading outwardly from the regulator. 

